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Brazilian Pennywort leaves..

9K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  JDM 
#1 ·
Just bought quite a few bunches to float for my 55g and they've been in there 5-6 days. Is it normal for some of the original leaves to become brittle and fall off ? I am seeing plenty of new growth and the roots are starting to grow down from them.
 
#2 ·
Yes. It's not unusual for the stems to lose all their leaves and then grow out new ones altogether. I had a couple of sticks that I just let float and, as long as the stem stays green and healthy looking, it will grow back again.

I just started floating mine... actually it grew up and over and I can't keep it rooted now that there is so much floating growth pulling it up.

Different water parameters, lighting might do this but the lower part often doesn't have many leaves.

Here's a shot of mine, all still planted. You can see the leafless part and even one bare stem. That bare stem now has a small leaf at the top node started. Best propagation for these seems to be to just cut them off just above the lowest node and replant or flow that stem part.

Jeff.
 

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#4 ·
i have to thin out my floating pennywort every two weeks, otherwise it becomes so thick that the substrate plants don't receive enough light. originally i only purchased two bunches, and it's grown so much i've been able to add it to all 6 of my tanks. it's an awesome floating plant. and it's also a very good stem plant, if you choose to plant it in the substrate.

here's an above and a beneath view from one of my tanks...




 
#5 · (Edited)
Wow, what kind of lighting do you have? Really doubt my pennywort will ever look like that with the current lighting I have. My new leaves are much much much smaller. Looks like you use Co2 system, I know nothing about Co2 systems.

Some of th e tips of my stems are melting also, what causes this?
 
#6 ·
You don't need CO2 to have a prolific floating plant display as the light isn't as critical. The right spectrum of light is needed (although it may not be as critical either as long as it has some of the right spectrum) but not the intensity as the floating leaves are so close to it. They also get CO2 directly from the air which not only has a higher concentration, much higher than you can have in water, it is also the easiest for the emmersed leaves to absorb. The only caveat is that the floating plants probably don't release as much oxygen direectly into the water.

Jeff
 
#7 ·
It took my Brazilian Pennywort a few weeks to develop, and after a few months it was thick like Rip's and I was tossing out handfuls every week. Periodically it takes a downturn, probably a rest.

Byron.
 
#9 ·
If you cut it below the first node, that part will melt away up to the first healthy node... so as long as it is the "bottom" that is melting and you are seeing new growth at the top or along the stem, then all is probably fine.

Jeff.
 
#12 ·
I've been use flourish comp. once a week but have been thinking of using twice because I also have 3 swords in there, yes the tube that you mentioned is what I'm using. One more question ,I have a HOB filter that is baffled but still gives some surface disturbance , does disturbance affect floating pennywort like it would a true floating plant. I currently have all of the pennywort over to one side but would like to shift a few stems over.
 
#13 ·
I wouldn't be quick to double dose the ferts yet. I have a heavily planted tank and only dose once a week. If you are going to up it don't just double, increase the amount (1.25 dose weekly) and split that total per week instead, or just shorten time between dosings to 6 or 5 days.

The pennywort seems fine if it gets dunked and the stem holds the leaves in a string so they don't get all swirled about. Unlike a lot of dedicated floaters, this is a submerged stem that grows out of the water.

Jeff.
 
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